Japan Press Weekly

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2012 April 11 - 17 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

Local chamber of commerce claims TEPCO’s electric rate hike to be unfair

The Kawaguchi Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Kawaguchi City in Saitama Prefecture on April 11 filed a complaint with the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC), arguing that it is unfair for Tokyo Electric Power Co. to have unilaterally imposed higher electricity rates.

The city is well known as a site for metal casting production, which needs huge amounts of electricity.

The chamber is requesting that the JFTC issue a cease and desist order to TEPCO on the grounds that the increase in power rates for corporations and businesses from April violates the Anti-Monopoly Act.

According to the chamber, factories and business entities in Kawaguchi have no other choice but to accept the higher rates because they are only able to obtain electricity from TEPCO.

After submitting the complaint, President of the chamber Kodama Yosuke said to the press, “It’s absurd.”